By LARRY BALLWAHN | Wilton
Cork O’Connor was 12 years old in 1963. It was a year when he would learn a lot about his community and about his Indian heritage. He would also learn much about his dad, Liam, and what it took to be Sheriff of Tamarack County. As is usually the case. Sheriff of Tamarack County was an elected position. Liam was generally seen as a good sheriff, but not so on the reservation (rez). No white lawman was trusted on the rez; there was simply too much history.
Cork was one-quarter Ojibwe, the tribe whose reservation was in Tamarack County. His mother was the daughter of Grandmother Dilsey, who had been married to an Irishman. Grandmother Dilsey lived on the reservation and regularly shared rez concerns with her sheriff son-in-law. Generally, that didn’t cause a problem, but then Big John Manydeeds’ suicide happened. Only the rez didn’t believe it was a suicide, and they didn’t believe that a white sheriff would get to the bottom of it, especially if it was murder committed by a rich white man.
Jorge’s mother took care of the Macdermids’ home. Duncan Macdermid was the owner of the area’s iron mine, and he owned the largest home in Minnesota’s north woods. Jorge was a compatriot of Cork’s, and he and Cork had found Big John Manydeeds hanging at Lighting Strike. It appeared to be a suicide, another Indian who had resumed drinking. No one on the reservation believed that’s what had happened. Not Big John. As more facts were known, perhaps they were right.
Duncan Macdermid was a cruel husband. His wife found solace with Big John. It was common knowledge on the rez. Since people on the rez didn’t believe Big John’s death was suicide, they believed Duncan Macdermid had committed murder. They also believed that since Macdermid was white and had money, Liam would let him get away with it.
Cork and Jorge had found the body. Cork knew about the investigation and the feeling on the rez because he was often with his dad when the death was the topic of discussion. He had spent time at Jorge’s house and knew something of the Macdermids. Since Cork’s dad could deal only with the facts presented, he had little time for talk from the rez or even Cork’s suppositions. Cork’s friends believed that Big John’s spirit was still at Lightning Strike, waiting for the truth to come out before he could start his westward journey. Cork thought there was something to this.
The Mide, Henry Meloux, told the boys to follow the clues. Among other things, the clues began to mount when they discovered that the most likely way to Lighting Strike, by boat, was off a waterway that started on the reservation. Big John’s wrecked canoe was found in the backwaters there. There was also the matter of a girl’s body that was found in the lake and whether it was connected in some way.
A real complication happened, though, when Duncan Macdermid is killed by his wife. He can no longer confess to Big John’s murder. Did Duncan Macdermid kill Big John? Is the body found somehow related?
Addendum
One of the participants in our book-sharing club recommended “Travels with George.” I found out much I didn’t know, not only about our first president, but about the challenges of beginning the “United” States. It’s an interesting read.